Statement of Purpose
It is the mission of Northwest Compass to enhance our community by providing emergency services, education, and empowerment programs which foster personal responsibility for those who are vulnerable or in crisis.
Our Vision is that our volunteers will use their passion, skills, and knowledge to be a seamless extension of our portfolio of services and will become our best advocates and ambassadors of our Brand and Mission.
The goals of the Volunteer Program are to extend the resources utilized by Northwest Compass in fulfilling its mission, while providing the volunteers with a fulfilling and enriching experience.
Acknowledgment
In addition to the work provided by volunteers like you, our mission is supported, in part, through grants and
donations. Your signature below acknowledges that you understand the activities you have agreed to provide to
Northwest Compass may be associated with client services for which we also receive grant funding, and that the volunteer hours you report to us may be reported to grantors to demonstrate how we help self-fund our programs. We calculate the value of services, unless otherwise noted, at $15 per hour. You further acknowledge that Northwest Compass is providing no compensation for the services you generously volunteer to provide.
Definition of a Volunteer
A “volunteer” is anyone who performs a service for Northwest Compass but receives no compensation of any form.
Purpose of Volunteer Policies
The purpose of these policies is to provide overall guidance, structure, and direction to staff and volunteers throughout the volunteer experience. While “volunteers” are not considered “employees” of Northwest Compass, they are expected to comply with Northwest Compass policies and to reflect positive customer service attitudes to staff and participants. These policies do not constitute, either implicitly or explicitly, a binding contractual or personnel agreement. Northwest Compass reserves the right to change these policies at any time.
Confidentiality
It is the obligation of Northwest Compass to provide policies and procedures to ensure the confidentiality of
information provided by its employees, volunteers and participants. Files for employees and volunteers are to be maintained in secure locations, and are only accessible by those persons with authorization to do so. Participants’ files are not to be examined by anyone other than the appropriate staff member(s). Employees and volunteers must also be certain that conversations about participants and their concerns and needs are restricted to locations where they cannot be overheard by unauthorized persons.
Volunteer Procedures
To begin serving as a volunteer with Northwest Compass, the following must occur:
1) Volunteer fills out application, provides resume, fills out release of liability, consent for background check and signs off on policy form. Due to the confidential information which is a part of many of the activities with which volunteers will be involved, Northwest Compass requires a consent for a background check on all volunteers.
2) Above-mentioned forms are reviewed and volunteer is interviewed by a Northwest Compass Staff member to discuss opportunities.
3) Upon receipt of management approvals, Northwest Compass personnel will make arrangements for orientation, training and scheduling.
Once a volunteer is ready to start with their services, the following procedures need to be followed:
- Notification of Absence. Please contact your volunteer supervisor as soon as possible if you are not able to fulfill your scheduled volunteer service for any reason; including but not limited to Illness, Scheduling Conflict or Other.
- Arrival. At every arrival you must sign in at the volunteer office and put on a volunteer badge.
- Valuables. Please try to avoid bringing valuables with you as Northwest Compass cannot be responsible for any damage or loss.
- Accidents. You are important to us and we strive to keep all environments safe for everyone. However, if there is an accident involving participants, staff or yourself; report all information to your supervisor immediately!
- Reporting. If you suspect that there are any concerns of law that need to be followed to protect the organization or our participant, report them to your supervisor immediately; including but not limited to Fraud, Elder Abuse, Child Abuse, Danger to Self or Others, etc.
- Gift Acceptance Policy. Volunteers are prohibited from the solicitation, acceptance of gifts or favors in money, in-kind service or gratuities which are made in expectation of preferred service, or as payment for services rendered.
General
- Volunteers are responsible for updating personal data, such as a change of address or telephone number, with their supervisor.
- Dress according to what is appropriate and comfortable for your volunteer position. Please ask your supervisor if you have any questions regarding what is appropriate dress.
- References are always gladly provided for volunteers, upon request. Position descriptions, evaluations and sign-in sheets serve as tools for preparing references.
Ending Time of Service. At such time as you determine you are no longer available to serve, please notify your supervisor of that decision and the effective date. Volunteers agree that Northwest Compass may at any time, for whatever reason, decide to terminate the volunteer’s relationship with Northwest Compass, or to make changes in the nature of their volunteer
assignment. Volunteers who fail to meet the requirements of the job descriptions, violate Northwest Compass’ policies, or violate city, local, state or federal law while working at Northwest Compass are subject to dismissal.
Prohibited Activities
Northwest Compass equipment and supplies are for its use only, and may not be used for personal business. Use of alcohol or illegal drugs in the workplace is prohibited, as is the abuse of any drug or alcohol, or reporting for work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. All volunteers, employees, supervisors and members of management—both male and female—are strictly prohibited from sexually harassing or making improper advances towards other volunteers, participants or employees. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome or unsolicited verbal, physical or sexual conduct that is made a term of condition of service or
employment, is used as the basis of employment or advancement decision or has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with work or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. Any concern about, or experience of, sexual harassment needs to be reported immediately to the volunteer’s supervisor or the volunteer coordinator.